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Geosmithia associated with hardwood-infesting bark and ambrosia beetles, with the description of three new species from Poland

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Abstract

Geosmithia species (Hypocreales, Ascomycota) are associates of bark beetles and other arthropods. One species, Geosmithia morbida, is a virulent tree pathogen of Juglans nigra. To date, 10 Geosmithia spp. from conifer-infesting, and at least 23 species from hardwood associated bark beetles have been reported from Europe. The aim of this study was to survey Geosmithia spp. associated with 18 bark and ambrosia beetle species in hardwood ecosystems in Poland. In addition, we evaluated the pathogenicity of the six Geosmithia species by inoculating Acer, Fagus, Quercus, Tilia and Ulmus seedlings. Our surveys yielded a total of 1060 isolates from 2915 beetles and 1887 galleries. We identified isolates using morphology and ITS, β-tubulin and TEF1-α sequences. Altogether we identified 11 species including nine previously known and two new species described here as Geosmithia fagi sp. nov. and G. pazoutovae sp. nov. In addition, a sister species G. longistipitata sp. nov., associated with Picea trees, is described here. Bark beetles from hardwoods, with exeption of Dryocoetes alni, D. villosus, Scolytus ratzeburgi and ambrosia beetles, appear to be regular vectors of Geosmithia spp. Like in other parts of the world, most Geosmithia taxa exhibited a distinct level of vector/host specificity. None of Geosmithia isolates induced any disease symptoms under the conditions of our experiment. This study highlights the need for more intensive surveys across additional areas of Central and Northern Europe, insect vectors and host tree species in order to elucidate the Geosmithia species diversity in this region.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the National Science Centre in Poland (contract No. UMO-2014/15/NZ9/00560).

Funding

This study was funded by the National Science Centre, Poland (contract No. UMO-2014/15/B/NZ9/00560) and by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Poland. MK was supported by the grant BIOCEV CZ.1.05/1.1.00/02.0109.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest Ecosystems Protection, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. 29 Listopada 46, 31-425, Kraków, Poland

    Beata Strzałka & Robert Jankowiak

  2. Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, v.v.i. Vídeňská 1083, 142 20, Prague 4, Czech Republic

    Miroslav Kolařík

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  1. Beata Strzałka
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  2. Miroslav Kolařík
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  3. Robert Jankowiak
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Contributions

BS designed the study, collecting samples, identification of fungi, performed the pathogenic test and the phenotypic characterization, wrote the original draft; RJ designed the study, performed the phenotypic and molecular characterization, edited the original draft; MK performed the phenotypic and molecular characterization; the analysis of molecular and taxonomic data, deposited fungal cultures, edited the original draft.

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Correspondence to Miroslav Kolařík or Robert Jankowiak.

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Strzałka, B., Kolařík, M. & Jankowiak, R. Geosmithia associated with hardwood-infesting bark and ambrosia beetles, with the description of three new species from Poland. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 114, 169–194 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10482-020-01510-6

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